The continuing trend toward urbanisation has brought to the fore the linkages between human societies, the technological world which they have created and live in, and the natural environment. Understanding these linkages is crucial to the survival of our species. Recent events (hurricane Katrina, Fukushima disaster, UK flooding 2007) have shown what dire consequences can ensue when weak links are overlooked.

Engineers, policy makers, designers and planners are some of the key professions shaping the future of the urban world. The decisions they make today will often affect many generations to come. As such it is essential that their decision be backed by knowledge which is both scientifically sound and also fully aware of the human factors inherent in urban issues.

The first international conference in Urban Sustainability and Resilience will bring together world experts from across a wide range of engineering, science and social science disciplines with three main objectives:

Bring together a strong research community committed to address some of the most pressing issues that human societies have ever faced;

Take stock of the current state of knowledge in the field of urban sustainability and resilience